Ireland allows work permission to the partners of certain employment permit holders. The eligible spouses and partners will have the work permission automatically without applying for a separate permit if the main applicant has the following types of work visas:
- General employment permit (GEP);
- Intra-company transferee Irish employment permit (ICT);
- Critical Skills employment permit (CSEP); and
- Researcher visa.
Furthermore, the following applicants are also eligible for these changes:
- an eligible spouse or partner of a Non-Consultant Hospital Doctor (NCHD) on a Multi-Site General Employment Permit;
Or, - spouse or partner previously held one of the above and is now on Stamp 4
permission; - spouse or partner has been issued a Reactivation Employment Permit for a GEP, ICT, or CSEP Employment Permit.
The eligible partners and spouses should have attained the family reunification visa according to non-EEA policy and currently are on stamp 3 visa IRP (in-date Irish Residence permit) will be able to be converted to a 1G stamp that allows them automatic permission to work in Ireland. These new regulations however did not affect the process of joining a family member as a spouse in Ireland.
Special exceptions for the new rules
The Ministers for Justice and Enterprise, Trade, and Employment have made these changes according to special administrative exceptions. This comes into effect from 15.05.2024.
A new Irish Residence Permit as per 1G will be issued to these eligible spouses once their current residence permit expires. To be eligible for these rules,
Permission to Work for Spouses Already in Effect
The eligible spouses and partners holding Irish Residence Permit according to Stamp 3 do not need to get a separate visa currently to engage in employment. If they want to work, they can show this administrative letter to the employer that proves they have now permission to work. This transition period will be valid till 15.05.2025 and after that residence permit with stamp 1G will be mandatory to work.
Which spouses and family members do not fall under these rules?
These rules do not apply to the following:
- Except for spouses, all other family members do not fall under these rules;
- spouses and partners of the study or visitor visa holders;
- if the main applicant has been revoked from residence permits mentioned above;
- stamp 3 visa holders but their main applicant has another residence permit stated otherwise.
Files from Umer Rasib, schengenvisa.news and The Ministers for Justice and Enterprise, Trade and Employment Ireland